BRUSSELS, Friday (AFP) Pakistan's foreign minister condemned Israel's
decision to sell airborne radar systems to India, saying it would
destabilise both the Middle East and southern Asia and warning Islambad
would respond in kind.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri urged the international
community to put pressure on both Israel and India over the deal to sell
three Phalcon airborne early warning radar systems to the Indian air
force.

"It will destabilise the whole region, not just South Asia (but)
including the Middle East. It is very, very dangerous," he said
during a visit to Brussels.

"India should desist from introducing yet another new generation
of weapons system. If it does that we will be forced to match... Only a
very foolish government in Pakistan would take a sleeping pill and go into
a long slumber."

Kasuri said Pakistan, which nearly went to war with its neighbour and
nuclear rival last year, would be forced to react even though "it
will mean greater poverty for the already poor people of south Asia".

"So the world community must apply pressure on Israel and on India
to not introduce yet another dangerous new generation weapons system in
south Asia," he said.

Last month India signed a deal with Israel to buy three Phalcon radar
systems and an accord with Russia to purchase aircraft that will be
equipped with the airborne radars.

The United States, which had earlier blocked the sale of Phalcons to
both India and China, has now given Israel the go-ahead to sign the deal
with New Delhi.

Kasuri insisted Pakistan did not want an arms race with its much larger
neighbour. "We are not an arms race with India. We have decided to
have a minimum deterrent," he said.

The minister, speaking after meetings with EU officials, said the world
needs to do more to help avoid a new war between the nuclear neighbours,
whose dispute over Kashmir has been called the world's most dangerous
flashpoint.

"We need the engagement of the international communitunty and we
need it very badly," he said. "If war is to be avoided between
India and Pakistan in the long run ... we will need the support of the
international community."

"Last year we avoided a war luckily. We can't play with luck all
the time," he added.